Living in the Keys means living with hurricanes. This is the specific and most likely scenario I prepare for. Such preps do carry over to covering other threats. In the past I have bugged out, sent my family on bug out and stayed solo, and have had the family in total bug in.

The key (as has been said before) is information and the wisdom and ability to act quickly and decisively. If we are bugging out we go NOW. Last season we were hit with 4 storms, on 3 of them it was ?send out the family? while I stayed. During one, the girls left 4 days in advance due to the storm slowing down and then they stayed for a couple of days after. We are fortunate to have my MIL in cent Fl. as a BO location. I am diligent about having cash on hand for these events. Giving my wife an envelope with a couple grand to travel with goes a long way toward getting them to leave without argument.

My parents and brother live in Houston, so during Rita last year I encouraged early evac. Of course they didn?t, got caught in traffic and turned around. Fortunately, Rita was a nonevent for them. Unfortunately, to them, this validates their lack of preparedness. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Due to geography, ie. living 80 miles from the mainland with 1 road out, then reaching a major metro area, precludes my bugging out should an event occur without warning. However, mitigating factors such as easy food procurement (fishing), mild climate, and the curiously individualistic mindset of the long time locals makes this a secure place to live (not to mention we can blow the bridges to keep the MZB?s out) <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Bottom line - plan, gather intel, react.

Scott